Conor Benn says his reputation and integrity remain intact before a suspension hearing to decide his future in British boxing.
‘The Destroyer’ is on the cusp of being free to continue his career following two failed drug tests before a scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. in 2022. Benn has consistently denied any wrongdoing despite being temporarily suspended from competing.
Benn successfully appealed the ban and competed twice in the United States. However, he’s back out of the frame again until a decision comes next month. All sanctioning bodies have since reinstated Benn into the rankings, having previously removed the Londoner. This scenario means the signs look good for the welterweight moving forward.
The son of boxing legend Nigel Benn says the fact he hasn’t admitted any guilt means he can put the situation behind him with honor.
“Forget the narrative that’s being pushed. The people who had done the test cleared me a year-and-a-half ago,” Benn told Sky Sports. “I had passed all my UKADs [drug tests] during that same period. So their authority I had passed.
“This is something I’m willing to fight for and have fought for. I’m glad it’s coming to an end [next month]. I haven’t bent. I haven’t swayed on the truth. That’s all that matters to me – my integrity.”
On being suspended in his own country, Benn added, “I couldn’t accept the ban. I won’t raise my hand to it if I haven’t done something. Never this! I stay true to what I believe in. The easy option would be: ‘Yeah, I’ll just take this,’ not continue to fight and spend hundreds of thousands, missing out on big opportunities if I had done something.”
He concluded, “If it were titles [I was fighting for], I would have had this case closed two years ago. The reputation still stands. The integrity stands.”
Due to Benn being out of action on home soil for well over two years, it’s hard to see the British Boxing Board of Control and the UK Anti-Doping Agency prolonging the case any further. Benn should be free to continue his career in England by at least the spring, putting his home exile at three years. That should be more than enough to appease the BBBofC and UKAD, despite Benn continuing to fight outside the UK when the consensus is he should have waited.
Once the judgment comes, Benn can set up a warm-up fight by December before eyeing the more significant names in 2025. A world title shot could be in the pipeline by May before promoter Eddie Hearn can reignite a UK Pay Per View clash with Chris Eubank Jr. for the fall of next year.
The O2 Arena remains the favorite to host.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
